Combatting air pollution and cancer in Bosnia and Herzegovina

An innovative project in Una-Sana Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina, merges local solutions and global health perspectives to tackle the silent threat of air pollution and its link to cancer.

Air pollution, an invisible enemy with visible effects, is a major global public health concern, especially due to its link to respiratory diseases and cancer.

In Una-Sana Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina, we have launched a crucial initiative to combat this health threat through advanced technology and local expertise, aiming to explore and reduce the carcinogenic risks posed by atmospheric pollutants.

The mountainous terrain, wood heating systems, and industrial activities in Una-Sana create unique environmental challenges. Chemical and coal industries, along with our heating and transportation methods, contribute to air and soil pollution, affecting community health.

Pollutant emissions are particularly high in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially sulfur dioxide (SO2), at 109.11 kg per capita compared to 2.1 kg per capita in France, primarily due to fossil fuel-based heating, predominantly low-quality coal. Vehicle emissions represent a major source of air pollution in BiH, accounting for 40% of emissions, with a concerning state of the vehicle fleet.

By providing real-time data on air and soil quality, we enable policymakers and the community to make informed health and environmental decisions.

This project draws inspiration from the Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), particularly the strategies discussed in the article "Strategy to derive human biomonitoring guidance values for health risk assessment" on ScienceDirect. Our approach includes:

• Remote Environmental Monitoring: Advanced sensors will be installed at key locations across the canton to continuously collect data on critical pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and soil contaminants.
• Community Engagement and Health Monitoring: We will conduct educational sessions with local communities to discuss the impact of air and soil quality and collect health data to monitor effects over time.

A key aspect of our monitoring effort is to identify how exposure to certain atmospheric and soil pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and fine particles, increases cancer risk. These pollutants are known carcinogens that can alter DNA and potentially lead to cancer-causing mutations. Through targeted monitoring, we can identify and address high risks, informing public health strategies and regulatory policies.

The monitoring technologies deployed in Una-Sana are locally developed, adapted to the region's environmental conditions, while adhering to global scientific standards. This ensures our data is both accurate and globally relevant, contributing to research in environmental health and oncology.

Preliminary data aims to show a clear correlation between poor air and soil quality and increased health problems, including respiratory issues and potentially higher cancer incidence. This information is crucial for shaping health policy and preventive measures in Una-Sana. In the future, we plan to expand our monitoring network and incorporate predictive analytics to proactively manage air and soil quality issues.

The air and soil quality monitoring initiative in Una-Sana is more than a local project; it is a vital part of the global effort to combat environmental causes of cancer. By understanding and addressing the link between air and soil pollution and cancer, we improve community health and contribute to the global fight against this disease.

The most important aspect of environmental health is to limit the consumption of polluting goods and return to reasonable and sustainable consumption for the community. It is difficult for low- and middle-income countries to achieve the levels of resource consumption and overproduction seen in ‘wealthier nations’.

Given recent environmental degradation, technological and digital solutions are not necessarily the answer, as they may ultimately exacerbate degradation and could lower our standard of living.

In collaboration with CartONG, we conducted a comprehensive mapping of the northern part of Una-Sana Canton using OpenStreetMap. This helps us better plan our actions, conduct more precise epidemiological surveys, and calculate distances and accessibility to healthcare facilities.